The government’s move to abrogate Article 370 that grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir has created panic in the northeastern states of Nagaland and Mizoram protected under provisions of Article 371.
According to articles 371-A and 371-G that deal with special provisions with respect to Nagaland and Mizoram, ownership and transfer of land shall apply to the states unless their respective legislative assemblies by a resolution decide otherwise.
The Mizoram Congress called it a ‘Red Alert’ for people of the northeast. Former Mizoram chief minister and president of the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) Lal Thanhawla took to Twitter to voice his concern.
RED ALERT to the people of NE. It has become a threat to states like Mizoram, Nagaland & Arunachal which are protected by the Consitution. If 35A and 370 are repealed, Article 371G, which safeguards the interests and existence of lesser tribals of Mizoram is under severe threat.
— Lal Thanhawla (@LThanhawla) August 5, 2019
Amidst the massive uproar, the Rajya Sabha on August 5th, 2019 passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill that seeks to scrap Article 370 and Article 35A in J&K, while also bifurcating the state into Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Total of 125 members voted in favour of the passage of the resolution and 61 voted against it.